National League on Saturday – Top fight goes to the Lions – EVZ defeats SCB after penalties – Sport

• In the National League, the ZSC Lions won the top battle away against Freiburg 3-1.
• As in the first meeting this season, Zug defeated SCB after a penalty shootout.
• Kloten wins again after 4 defeats and the Tigers defeat their feared opponent Ambri.

Freiburg – ZSC Lions 1:3

The top battle between Fribourg-Gottéron and the ZSC Lions was also a duel between two strong teams. The league leaders from Saanestadt won 10 of their last 11 games, Zurich won three times in a row before they were defeated 3-1 by Lugano on Friday. The form was better demonstrated at the beginning of the ZSC. Willy Riedi made it 1-0 after just 17 seconds. There was initially no reaction from Freiburg. It was the Zurich team who were able to increase the score in the second third. Derek Grant was successful with a deflection in the majority (32nd). The tension only returned to the game in the final third with Benoît Jecker’s goal (45th). Shortly afterwards, Denis Malgin made the preliminary decision with a wonderful wrist shot and made it 3-1.

Bern – Zug 1:2 nP

The EVZ reacted one day after the slip-up on Friday at home against Ambri (2:3) with a narrow away win in Bern. As on September 23rd in the first meeting, Zug had better nerves in the penalty shootout – Lino Martschini was the only shooter to score. For a long time there were no goals in the regular season. It wasn’t until the 37th minute that Brian O’Neill, who served as captain in the absence of the injured Jan Kovar, managed to open the can. At the beginning of the third period, SCB equalized in the power play through Joel Vermin and a few seconds before the final siren, Marco Lehmann almost led the home team to 3 points. Leonardo Genoni parried the attempt brilliantly.

Kloten – Lakers 2:1

It was a game on a knife’s edge between EHC Kloten and the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers. After Roman Cervenka gave St. Gallen the lead with a goal (18th), Axel Simic in particular provided the offensive music on the Zurich side. Just 43 seconds after the visitors made it 1-0, the Kloten striker put the ball into the net after a beautiful solo. And shortly before the second break, Simic gave the home team the lead for the first time. The Lakers were no longer able to react in the final third, the Zurich team took the narrow lead over time – and won for the first time after 4 defeats.

Legend:

Big relief …

… at EHC Kloten after the narrow home win.

Martin Meienberger/freshfocus

Davos – Biel 3:2

The Zealanders remain stuck in the bottom of the table because they followed up Friday’s extra-time win against Ajoie with their 12th defeat (the 7th after 60 minutes) in their 17th game. Since the first two games, Biel has never been able to string two wins together. In a game characterized by many small penalties, the decision was made in the starting third. Davos responded to Biel’s lead through Jesper Olofsson (6th) with two goals before the first siren. Tomas Jurco put the lid on things with his 2nd goal of the evening in the 44th minute.

Ambri – SCL Tigers 2:1 aet

What a final phase in the full Gottardo Arena with what a bitter outcome for the guests. Until one (!) second before the final siren, Emmental had led 1-0 midway through the game thanks to a goal from Patrick Petrini. It would have been the Tigers’ first win against Ambri since December 7, 2021. But the Leventiners had other plans: Jesse Virtanen equalized at the last second and in extra time Johnny Kneubuehler scored the much celebrated winning goal after 2 minutes.

Lugano – Lausanne 3:4

After 6 wins in a row, HC Lugano once again has to leave the ice as a loser. Tim Bozon’s goal in the 38th minute made the difference against Lausanne. The Vaudois was successful with a deflection. In an eventful game, the French-speaking Swiss team lost a lead to 1-0 and 2-1. Lausanne had the perfect answer to Lugano’s Daniel Carr (32′) making it 3-2. Damien Riat equalized the score (35′) before Bozon made his big appearance. It is the 2nd win in a row for the LHC.